Phoolan ‘killer’ is out on jail

Rana was supposed to be taken to a city court to be handed over to Uttaranchal Police. He was to attend a court hearing in Hardwar for a case under Gangsters Act.

But before that could happen, a man had arrived at Tihar and identified himself as ‘‘Arvind Kumar, DAP constable (badge number 4882)’’. He told Head Warden Ramesh Chand and Assistant Superintendent Prem Chand Yadav that he was to take Rana to the courts.

The man was carrying a file containing documents and his I-card. ‘‘The officials didn’t read the papers or, according to norms, check the I-card,’’ said Tihar jail DG Ajay Agrawal.

After filling a form and collecting Rs 40 (for Rana’s refreshments as per procedure), the ‘‘constable’’ handcuffed him. He led Rana towards the exit and entry register kept for prisoners.

‘‘They then left the jail and went in between the vans out and towards the jail no 3 main gate,’’ said Agrawal. Admitting a ‘‘serious lapse’’, he maintained ‘‘it was not a system failure but an individual’s mistake’’.

When constable Ashok Kumar arrived later and asked for Rana, he was told that the prisoner had been sent with another constable. Officials soon found out that there was no constable by the name of Arvind Kumar in DAP’s 3rd battalion, which is in charge of transporting Tihar prisoners.

Heads rolled by the afternoon. Deputy Superintendent V.D. Pushkarna, in charge of handing over prisoners for production in court, was suspended for ‘‘dereliction of duty’’. Assistant Superintendent Prem Chand Yadav and Head Warden Ramesh Chand were also suspended.

Police Commissioner K.K. Paul announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for Rana’s re-arrest. West zone District Commissioner Ashish Chand Verma has begun an inquiry that has to submit its report by February 24.